Tack-driver and carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

P. J. OOONNOR.

TACK DRIVER AND CARPET STRBTGHER.

Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

IN VENTOR Hum/w ATTORNEYS Z2 14. Gr

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. OOONNOR, OF SEYMOUR, INDIANA.

TACK-DRIVER AND CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348, dated August 1956- Application filed November 28, 1885. Serial No.184,184. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, PATRICK J. OCoNNoR, of Seymour, in the county of Jackson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Tack-Driver and Carpet-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved carpet-stretcher provided with an attachment for driving tacks and staples for holding the carpet in place.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details, as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a longitudinal view of my improved carpet-stretcher and tack-driver, parts being broken out and others being in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the lower part of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view of the lower part of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the claw. Fig. 5 is a top view of the jaws. Fig. 6 is a detail cross-sectional view of the hammer and the guide-tube.

The tube A is provided with a head, B, socurely fastened on its upper end, and with the two jaws C on the lower end, which jaws are tapered toward each other on the inside and outside. To each jaw C the lower end of a flat spring, D, is secured at the lower. end and on the ou'tside,which springs pass up through grooves E 011 the outer side of the jaws, and have holes E in their upper parts, through which holes the fastening-screws F pass into the thickened lower end part, A, of the tube A, as shown, thus permitting of adjusting the jaws on the lower end of the tube A. The opening between the jaws O is square at the top and tapers on two opposite sides toward the lower end, and in each tapering side of said opening or guide thus formed a groove, G, is provided, which grooves taper toward their lower ends, the taper being more sudden near the lower ends of the grooves, as

shown in Fig. 3.

The tube A is provided with two opposite longitudinal slots, H, extending from the top to near the middle, and through the said slots 3. pin, J, is passed,which is also passed through a head or block, K, mounted to slide on the tube A, and to which block the sliding hammer-rod L in the tube A is secured, the said hammer-rod having the tapered part M on its lower end.

For driving staples,the lower end of the hammer-rod is provided with the opposite side projections, N, as shown in Fig. 6.

A short distance above the jaws the tube A is provided with the slot 0, for introducing the tacks or staples into the tube.

The carpet stretching claw P, which is curved as shown in Fig. 3, is secured to the tube A, at the lower end of the same, and the lower end of the claw, having a series of teeth, is slightly beyond the ends of the jaws O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation is as follows: The block K is drawn up to the head B, so that both can be grasped and held with one hand, and then the teeth of the claw 1 are forced into the carpet at or near the edge, and the carpet is stretched in the same manner as with a usual stretcher. WVhen the block Kis raised, a tack or staple is placed into the tube A through the slot 0, the said tack or staple sliding down the opening between the jaws until its point projects slightly from the lower ends of the jaws, the head of the tack preventing it from sliding entirely out of the opening between the jaws. When the carpet has been stretched as much as is necessary, the hammer-rod is released and dropping under the action of its own weight and of a slight pressure it drives the tack through the carpet into the floor. Then the hammer-rod is raised and another tack driven in the same manner, and so on. After the tack has been driven the springs D press the jaws together again. The carpet-stretcher can also be used as a device for pulling tacks,

by so adjusting or disposing the device as to cause the thickened portion of the claw P to rest on the floor, and thus serve as a fulcrum, while the toothed or free end of the claw is inserted under the head of the tack, when, by pressing down upon the rod A, which now constitutes the longer arm of a lever, the operation of pulling the tack can be efiected, which is repeated as long as tacks are to be extracted.

I am aware that it is not new to employ a spring-pressed hammer-rod fitting in an inclosing or containing case or tube having tack or nail holding jaws; to employ, in connection with a tack -driver, a rigid finger having a curved point; to employ, in connection with a spring-pressed hammer-rod and an inclosingtube having j aws, a lateral tack-feeding trough; also to employ, in connection with such a han1- 1 mer-rod and inclosing-tube, a lateral opening adapted to feed to the hammer-rod staple-like fastenings, and to employ such a hammer-rod and an inclosing-tube provided with jaws, together with a pinchers,which serve as a stretcher. My invention, however, differs from all of these in that the hammer-rod is actuated to drive the tack or staple by means of a hammer or block arranged upon the outside of the hammer-rod inclosingtube, and connected to said hammer-rod, whereby the tube and hammer rod driving weight or block can be; grasped by the same, or one, hand, and the said rod be operated in a plane within the area of the tube; also, in thatthe tack orstaple holding jaws are adjustable, and that the'claw Q constructed, applied, and arranged as hereine shown and described,serves j ointly as a stretcher and a tack extractor or puller.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 block disposed upon the outside of thetube, of

the carpet-stretcher claw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

PATRICK J. OCONNOR. Witnesses:

LESLIE P. BYRNE, GHAs. F. RAsENER. 

